What size is too small to keep and be useful? I've been struggling with the whole not wanting to throw any piece of fabric away and I might be getting too carried away.....

If you want to get rid of the really small pieces, there a bunch of us that are making postage stamp quilts, and 2.5" quilts. We would be thrilled to take those off your hands. We need variety in our swaps.

I cut them first into 5" squares, if not enough for that, 4 1/2" squares and if not enough for that, 2 1/2" strips. I do not let them pile up anymore. Last year I spent an entire month cutting up scraps! Never again.

Do you really know what kind of people are on this Board? "The greatest people in the quilting world". I no longer feel like "The crazy lady scrap hoarder'. I don't cut anything until I find a use for it (and I know I'm going to find a use). I can't bring myself to throw out a scrap so it goes in the proper drawer or tote and sooner or later ends up in a quilt.

What size is too small to keep and be useful? I've been struggling with the whole not wanting to throw any piece of fabric away and I might be getting too carried away.....

there are ladies on this QB who would take any size scrap. some make postage stamp quilts, some make doll quilts or small wall hangings, etc. you get the drift. If you don't want them post on the QB in the Free offers or PIF section.

Many creative people here and many ways of doing things! I've discovered scrappy quilting and cut my leftovers into 1.5", 2", 2.5", and 3.5" strips and squares a la Bonnie Hunter. I find I'm sewing MORE by having the pieces ready to roll. I buy fabric in smaller pieces (usually 1/3 yard) for strips when I feel the urge to buy fabric - gets me lots of options and usually easier on the budget. If I need larger pieces for a pattern, I hit the stash or buy what I need, especially borders and backgrounds. There's definitely no right or wrong way...just keep it fun. :-)

I just finished cutting a bunch of scraps. They started in a drawer, all scrunched together so I pressed them and layed them on a TV tray to keep them flat (mostly strips). I cut mine into 2 1/2", 2", 1 3/4" and 1 1/2" squares. Don't know what I'm going to do with them but at least they are all cut DH commented that it appeared I was desperate to save the fabric, but hey I payed for it so I'll use as much as I can!
kathyd

In this order:
1. Fat quarter if I can get it.
2. If there's width of fabric, first cut 5 inch x WOF(these can later be 2.5 x WOF,or charms or 2.5 squares)
3. Then go to 2.5 x WOF
4. Then 1.5 x WOF (I'm planning to use these in a log cabin quilt)
5. If I can't get WOF then I cut squares, 2.5 then 3.0, then 3.5 4.0

I am working on my first *real* quilt, and decided to start out right by cutting all my scraps Bonnie Hunter-style as I cut my quilt pieces. Big mistake!! Of course I had miscut several pieces. Then many pieces shrank when I starched the pieced blocks for squaring up. Since my scraps were all ready cut into smaller pieces, I had to order more fabric, and beg for i spy squares. Next time, no cutting scraps until the quilt top is DONE!!!!!!!!! But I like having the scraps ready to go.

How much did your pieces shrink when you starched them?
Had you washed your fabrics first?